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Original Article
Online Published: 23 Dec 2020
 


Knowledge and practices regarding ear hygiene among Saudi adolescents

Hussam Ahmed M. Alruwaili, Umar Farooq Dar, Amjad Turayhib S. Alshammari, Sultan Faisal Alshaalan, Sultan Faisal W. Alrubayyi, Hamdah Saud J. Alruwaili, Naeem Khalaf N. Aljabbab.


Abstract
Background: Earwax constitutes a natural barrier against infection and provides a defense mechanism of the ear against water and insects. This study aimed to determine the community awareness about ear care and to show the commonly used methods in keeping ear hygiene and ear self-cleaning practice among Saudi adolescents in northern Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected Saudi adolescents in northern Saudi Arabia. A predesigned questionnaire was used to study the demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding self-ear cleaning.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 23 (±6.1) years and 62.4% were male. Most of the participants (93.1%) were aware about and practiced ear self-cleaning regularly. The desire of removing earwax was the most popular reason of self-ear cleaning (41.55%). Other reasons included hygiene (34.3%), feeling of itchiness (16.5%), and removal of dirt (2.1%). Cotton buds were the most common tools used by students (77.7%), whereas 11.2% used tissue, and 2.4% used a key.
Conclusion: Most of the participants (93.1%) were aware about and practiced self-ear cleaning regularly. However, further large-scale studies to assess the knowledge about safe ear self-cleaning practice are recommended, in addition to health education of the public about this important issue.

Key words: Ear self-cleaning, ear hygiene, ear infection


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alruwaili HAM, Dar UF, Alshammari ATS, Alshaalan SF, Alrubayyi SFW, Alruwaili HSJ, Aljabbab NKN. Knowledge and practices regarding ear hygiene among Saudi adolescents. IJMDC. 2021; 5(1): 224-228. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1606825984

Web Style

Alruwaili HAM, Dar UF, Alshammari ATS, Alshaalan SF, Alrubayyi SFW, Alruwaili HSJ, Aljabbab NKN. Knowledge and practices regarding ear hygiene among Saudi adolescents. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=17196 [Access: June 27, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1606825984

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alruwaili HAM, Dar UF, Alshammari ATS, Alshaalan SF, Alrubayyi SFW, Alruwaili HSJ, Aljabbab NKN. Knowledge and practices regarding ear hygiene among Saudi adolescents. IJMDC. 2021; 5(1): 224-228. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1606825984


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alruwaili HAM, Dar UF, Alshammari ATS, Alshaalan SF, Alrubayyi SFW, Alruwaili HSJ, Aljabbab NKN. Knowledge and practices regarding ear hygiene among Saudi adolescents. IJMDC. (2021), [cited June 27, 2026]; 5(1): 224-228. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1606825984


Harvard Style

Alruwaili, H. A. M., Dar, . U. F., Alshammari, . A. T. S., Alshaalan, . S. F., Alrubayyi, . S. F. W., Alruwaili, . H. S. J. & Aljabbab, . N. K. N. (2021) Knowledge and practices regarding ear hygiene among Saudi adolescents. IJMDC, 5 (1), 224-228. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1606825984


Turabian Style

Alruwaili, Hussam Ahmed M., Umar Farooq Dar, Amjad Turayhib S. Alshammari, Sultan Faisal Alshaalan, Sultan Faisal W. Alrubayyi, Hamdah Saud J. Alruwaili, and Naeem Khalaf N. Aljabbab. 2021. Knowledge and practices regarding ear hygiene among Saudi adolescents. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 5 (1), 224-228. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1606825984


Chicago Style

Alruwaili, Hussam Ahmed M., Umar Farooq Dar, Amjad Turayhib S. Alshammari, Sultan Faisal Alshaalan, Sultan Faisal W. Alrubayyi, Hamdah Saud J. Alruwaili, and Naeem Khalaf N. Aljabbab. "Knowledge and practices regarding ear hygiene among Saudi adolescents." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 5 (2021), 224-228. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1606825984


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alruwaili, Hussam Ahmed M., Umar Farooq Dar, Amjad Turayhib S. Alshammari, Sultan Faisal Alshaalan, Sultan Faisal W. Alrubayyi, Hamdah Saud J. Alruwaili, and Naeem Khalaf N. Aljabbab. "Knowledge and practices regarding ear hygiene among Saudi adolescents." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 5.1 (2021), 224-228. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1606825984


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alruwaili, H. A. M., Dar, . U. F., Alshammari, . A. T. S., Alshaalan, . S. F., Alrubayyi, . S. F. W., Alruwaili, . H. S. J. & Aljabbab, . N. K. N. (2021) Knowledge and practices regarding ear hygiene among Saudi adolescents. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 5 (1), 224-228. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1606825984




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